What Questions Should I Ask Skype?

[Pat Logsdon]

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040614_skype.jpg" /> <br /><br />I'll be speaking with someone from Skype soon for an article I'm working on. While I have a list of questions that I'll be asking, I thought it might be cool to poll the community here and see if there's anything that YOU would like to ask. Regulatory issues, the future of VoIP, pricing - the sky's the limit, so please post your questions here - there's a pretty good chance that they'll be answered!

[silentmuse]

Since Skype is about the only VOIPish technology out there that works behind NATs with zero configuration, I'd like to know when they plan to attempt video? Their website states that it's in the works, but is it in the works for 6 months from now or 6 years from now?

[hotweiss]

When will you add the option to transfer files between Skype users?
When are you going to add ink support for Tablet PC users?
Like silentmuse, I'm eagerly awaiting webcam support.

[freitasm]

I'd like to know when are they going to have phone calls to landline, like Stana is doing now? If so, would they "franchise" the gateways in each country, to have a bigger coverage of ending points to the POTS?

[Sven Johannsen]

What is their business plan? I am to dense to understand how you can maintain a company, giving away software designed to let you make free "phone calls". It's the giving it away I don't get, not the application.

[joelevi]

A second vote for Skype to PSTN and PSTN to Skype support.

[axe]

from what I understand, the bandwidth necessary for this app it Wifi-high speed. what about slower 1x/GPRS/dialup? since it is only audio, maybe a little less hungry for bandwidth resources?
AXE

[DiGiTYZED]

(1) Bluetooth headset support for Pocket PC?
(2) PSTN to & from Skype (like Stanaphone)
(3) Video support (even on Pocket PC... I know, I'm crazy)

...that's all for now.

[MacEdgar]

I like the product. Though my 5555 has echo issues when using it. Does SKYPE expect to support connections over a local network? Do they recommend using an external headphone set to listen, possibly to stop the echo. Do they plan to chage for the service.

[foldedspace]

Does it work with 2003SE?

[paris]

i love skype :) i quit using phones with my brother and girlfriend. Its even cheeper, well free, its much much much better in sound quality, its as if you have the person sitting next to you. I've got it installed on my ppc as well and i used it a few time so i could walk around the house and chat instead of sitting in front of the pc, it pretty cool :D


My only complaint is that it does not store your contacts on the internet so you can have them available everywhere u use skype.

[hotweiss]

i love skype :) i quit using phones with my brother and girlfriend. Its even cheeper, well free, its much much much better in sound quality, its as if you have the person sitting next to you. I've got it installed on my ppc as well and i used it a few time so i could walk around the house and chat instead of sitting in front of the pc, it pretty cool :D


My only complaint is that it does not store your contacts on the internet so you can have them available everywhere u use skype.

Good point, I forgot to mention that.

[joshu]

make it works with PocketPC 2002... thanks! 0X

[Jason Dunn]

I use Skype quite a bit on my desktop computer, and sometimes the connection quality goes to utter crap - hissing, huge audio drop-out, etc. The problem is that there's no stats page that tells me if I'm having packet loss or why the quality is so poor. So I'm wondering if they'd consider adding that. ;-)

[GeorgeRe]

I just used Skype 30 minutes ago to talk to my parents in Ireland. My parents and I would like to talk to my brothers in New York too, but they're both Mac users. What are Skype's plans to release a Mac version? Does the PC version run under Virtual PC on a Mac? For completeness, I suppose you should ask about Linux versions too.

I too am very curious about their business plan.

[Narin]

1) Skype can transmit over the internet, which is essentially free
2) POTS companies can transmit over the internet (free), plus their own network

How can Skype compete if a major telephone network decides to offer the same service?

What does Skype have that anyone else couldn't have with some programmers+time?

[rzanology]

this is the most simple of questions that matters most....Does this s#!t work??!?!?!

[bkerrins]

There are conversations going around now that with VoIP and the relaxation of cell phone restrictions, the cable operators will issue cable modems with built in wi-fi (yes, it's here already) + that same modem will work as a mini cell site. One could purchase the mobile phone as part of their regular cable internet access. All homes could theorectically work as a cell site to increase access.

[Gerard]

How does it compare, feature-by-feature, to Microsoft Research China's 'Portrait' version 2.21? Portrait supports audio over any connection, from 9.6baud up. It's not so perfect as a cellphone, but over dialup I've found it satisfactory. It seems Portrait is still largely ignored, though it now ties into MSN Messenger on a PC. I don't get it.

[Gremmie]

What actions are VoIP companies taking admist possible FCC regulations. Are they forming Political Action Committee's (PACs), if so, is Skype included? What will regulation do to the market; will it force the many independent VoIP companies to merge to battle the economy-of-scale AT&T, SBC, and Verizon has against current VoIP companies?

[Dermot81]

I strongly second the transfer of files!

[Bichcake]

I used skype all the time when i had a fast connection at school, and I must say that it works great. it takes a while to get used to leaving the connection open for 3-4 hours, walking in and out of the room and having the people on the other line do the same thing.
when others said that it is like having your relative/signifigant-other right in the room they wern't kidding, and it's something you have to experience to really understand.

Skype is a great program and is made by the same company that makes kazaa. unfortunately kazaa's bad name tarnishes skype. to those asking what the business model is, my opinion is that skype is a way to make the company look good. oil companies invest in researching alternative fuels and fuel cells. other companies give to charity. software companies give away great software.

it's all a way to make you buy more of their products. just look at google. no other company could have gotten away with gmail (even google is strugling with it, but think of the trouble microsoft would have had!)

ps I suggest that if you use skype often you go out and invest in a high quality mic(phantom powered, etc.). it makes the experience much much better.

[gadi]

A pocketpc 2002 version for those of us who have not yet upgraded will be well received.

Thanks
Gadi

[Skoobouy]

I would also like to know about business models, future services, PSTN connectivity, legal issues, etc.

I'm curious about how they got the technology to work over 56kbps, which they advertise.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but is everybody who is using Skype simply making/receiving calls over an always-on broadband connection through their PC? Is that the most common setup? What other setups are possible?

[szamot]

What actions are VoIP companies taking admist possible FCC regulations. Are they forming Political Action Committee's (PACs), if so, is Skype included? What will regulation do to the market; will it force the many independent VoIP companies to merge to battle the economy-of-scale AT&T, SBC, and Verizon has against current VoIP companies?

The economy of scale only works to a point, and in the case of huge companies as you mention it actually becomes more expansive because of huge redundancy and waste that are associated with dinosaur companies like that. I see it every day – it is just stupid.

[the_rapture]

from what I understand, the bandwidth necessary for this app it Wifi-high speed. what about slower 1x/GPRS/dialup? since it is only audio, maybe a little less hungry for bandwidth resources?
AXE

On my desktop it does really good job, compared to yahoo and my Verizon cell from my house with dialup.

Can we use it with a Bluetooth headset?

[freitasm]

Well, don't worry asking about Skype to landlines.

https://secure.skype.com/betastore/ is just available for Plantronics users, and not directly accessible from the main skype site, but soon SkypeOut will be available to anyone to place Skype to landline calls to up to 25 countries.

[freitasm]

Ok, here is the scoop: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=2918

And a screenshot:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/images/news/skypeout.JPG (http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=2918)